TBILISI, DFWatch–Another push is underway to convince European Union member states to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian citizens. Leading the charge is Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has emerged as a hardliner among EU leaders seeking to pressure the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) government using Brussels’ institutional tools. “I apologize to Georgians if this … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Several high-profile Georgian journalists, activists and opposition politicians have been summoned to court for allegedly insulting public officials online. TV anchors Vakho Sanaia and Vika Bukia, opposition figure Elene Khoshtaria and activist Ana Subeliani are among those who have faced court hearings. Specifically. this deals with Facebook posts considered offensive to ruling party MP … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Several high-profile Georgian journalists, activists and opposition politicians have been summoned to court for allegedly insulting public officials online. TV anchors Vakho Sanaia and Vika Bukia, opposition figure Elene Khoshtaria and activist Ana Subeliani are among those who have faced court hearings. Specifically. this deals with Facebook posts considered offensive to ruling party MP … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–United National Movement (UNM) chair Tina Bokuchava is one of the speakers at the German Marshall Fund’s annual Brussels Forum, a high-level transatlantic gathering of policymakers, diplomats, business leaders and experts. Bokuchava, who recently revealed that her husband had been abducted and forced into making an apology video, spoke about political prisoners and appealed to forum participants … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–United National Movement (UNM) chair Tina Bokuchava is one of the speakers at the German Marshall Fund’s annual Brussels Forum, a high-level transatlantic gathering of policymakers, diplomats, business leaders and experts. Bokuchava, who recently revealed that her husband had been abducted and forced into making an apology video, spoke about political prisoners and appealed to forum participants … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Hearings in the trial of a doctor who was arrested on his way home from an opposition rally last December have been tense. Now, the judge has closed the hearings to the media. Hearings so far have been marked by verbal altercations between the prosecution and defense lawyers. Giorgi Akhobadze, a medical doctor, was … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party has proposed new amendments to the country’s grant law, expanding the definition of what constitutes a foreign grant and reinforcing government control over external funding. The revised legislation, presented to parliament for a second reading, deals how to categorize technical assistance, such as training, equipment, and expert consultations, from foreign governments … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party has proposed new amendments to the country’s grant law, expanding the definition of what constitutes a foreign grant and reinforcing government control over external funding. The revised legislation, presented to parliament for a second reading, deals how to categorize technical assistance, such as training, equipment, and expert consultations, from foreign governments … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Lika Lortkipanidze was released from administrative detention after serving a 12-day administrative sentence for allegedly insulting a ruling party MP during a protest. According to Interpressnews, the incident took place on 17 May in a café. Lortkipanidze and fellow activists confronted Georgian Dream (GD) lawmaker Mariam Lashkhi with chants including “Down with the Russian … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government may be preparing the grounds for formally abandoning the country’s NATO aspirations and adopt a neutral status, analysts say. Just ahead of the June 24‑25 NATO summit in The Hague, Georgia’s government announced the closure of its NATO and EU Information Centre by July 1, merging its functions into the Foreign Ministry, a … Read more